Jake Delhomme : biography
Playoffs | | Passing | | Rushing | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | GP | GS | Comp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | INT | Rat | Att | Yds | TD |
2003-04 | Carolina Panthers | 4 | 4 | 59 | 102 | 57.8 | 987 | 6 | 1 | 106.1 | 10 | -1 | 0 |
2005-06 | Carolina Panthers | 3 | 3 | 54 | 90 | 60.0 | 655 | 5 | 4 | 82.4 | 5 | 24 | 0 |
2008-09 | Carolina Panthers | 1 | 1 | 17 | 34 | 50.0 | 205 | 1 | 5 | 39.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Playoff totals | 8 | 8 | 130 | 226 | 55.9 | 1,847 | 12 | 10 | 75.9 | 15 | 23 | 0 |
College career
Delhomme played college football for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then named the University of Southwestern Louisiana, his mother’s alma mater. The only true freshman quarterback to start for a Division I school in 1993, his passer efficiency rating ranked second among NCAA freshmen quarterbacks. Playing on a team with future NFL wide receiver Brandon Stokley and offensive lineman Anthony Clement the Ragin’ Cajuns won the Big West Conference twice, and finished with three winning seasons. During his senior year, he led the Ragin’ Cajuns to an improbable win over highly favored Texas A&M 29–22.
Delhomme finished his career as the school’s all-time passing leader in yards and touchdowns. He started the last 43 games of his career, which was the longest among active quarterbacks at the time. Upon graduating, he was ranked 22nd in NCAA history for passing yards and 28th in total offense. He was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.
Early years
Delhomme was born to Jerry and Marcia Delhomme, both Cajuns; the last name Delhomme translates into "of the man". Jake’s grandfather bred horses, and Jake’s father was a jockey who began racing at eight years old. Jake has called horses his "first love", and today he, his father, and his brother own and train thoroughbreds. Delhomme played both quarterback and defensive back for Teurlings Catholic; he made the all-state team in high school not as quarterback, but on defense.
Panthers franchise records
- Most career passing yards (19,258)
- Most career passing touchdowns (120)
- Most career interceptions (89)
- Most career pass completions (1,580)
- Most career 4th quarter comeback wins (17)
- Most career game winning drives (23)
- Best record for starting QB (53-37)
- Most 4th quarter comeback wins in a single season – 5 (2003)
- Most game winning drive in single season – 8 (2003)
- Most wins in a single season by starting QB – 12 (2008)
Professional career
New Orleans Saints and NFL Europe
Delhomme went undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft, but was later signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. After spending the first season on the practice squad, he was assigned to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe as a backup quarterback to future NFL and Super Bowl MVP, Kurt Warner. After another stint on the Saints’ practice squad, he was sent back to NFL Europe, this time as a member of the Frankfurt Galaxy. The Galaxy operated under a rare two-quarterback strategy, utilizing both Delhomme and Pat Barnes; the pair was known as the "Double-Headed Quarterback Monster". "Pat Barnes and Jake Delhomme split playing time right down the middle and famously became known as the "Double-Headed Quarterback Monster." The unorthodox strategy worked, as the Galaxy won World Bowl ’99 over the Barcelona Dragons. Delhomme would later say about his time in Europe: